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about mark otto
Mark Otto is a business consultant, author. and speaker. He draws on a lifetime of experience with the organizational strategic, and leadership challenges of growing companies to offer
practical and effective advice for improving leadership skils and business performance. Learn More
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Category Archives: Leadership

People Grow Businesses

02.26.2014 | Categories:

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Business growth starts and ends with people. Success depends on the will and skill of people at every level of an organization. Sure, sometimes growth efforts start at the top, but it’s impossible to sustain growth without the zeal, efforts, and imagination of people throughout the organization.

When It’s Time for a Business to Stand on Its Own

By Mark Otto

02.17.2014 | Categories:

Company Building, Leadership

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For a business to reach the highest levels of growth, profitability, and success, there must be a shift from dependence to independence. When a company is young, the founder is in total control, but as it grows and matures the self-interests of the founder can no longer trump the needs of the business. The organization needs sovereignty. The challenge is to forge the organization into a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.

The Leading Killer of Successful Businesses

By Mark Otto

02.10.2014 | Categories:

Company Building, Leadership

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The shift from growth to decline is almost imperceptible at first, particularly by those inside an organization. After all, the organization still looks and feels successful. But the signs are there if you know what to look for. Slowly, the business has lost the creativity, risk taking, initiative, and flexibility that made it successful in the first place.

The Toughest Part of Being a Growth Company CEO

By Mark Otto

02.05.2014 | Categories:

Company Building, Leadership

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By far the toughest skill for a CEO to learn is the ability to manage his own psychology. The technical aspects of running a business – creating systems and processes, designing structure, developing people, and so on – are relatively straightforward skills to understand and master. But growth is also psychological – you must mentally and emotionally prepare yourself to change as the business changes.

How to Spot a Business Disaster Waiting to Happen

By Mark Otto

01.31.2014 | Categories:

Company Building, Leadership

| Comments:

A company may appear to be the picture of success, a company that all others would aspire to be. But your greatest fear shouldn’t be that you will have to compete with this company. Your greatest fear should be that you become this company. This company isn’t a model. It’s a disaster waiting to happen. It’s dying, and it doesn’t even know it.

Conflict is Good for Your Business

By Mark Otto

01.29.2014 | Categories:

Leadership

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2 responses

If you are going to be a leader, you are going to have to deal with conflict. It’s part of your job. If you can’t or won’t handle conflict in a straightforward and effective manner, then you shouldn’t be a leader. Dealing with conflict is one of the most critical abilities that determines the effectiveness of a leader, yet it is often one of the least developed skills.

Be a Leader Wherever You Are

By Mark Otto

01.24.2014 | Categories:

Leadership

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In organizations, large and small, leadership is needed at every level and every area. It’s a false assumption to believe that you have to be in the C-Suite in order to be an effective leader. So how do you lead when you’re not the top dog? You learn to develop your influence wherever you currently are in an organization.

The CEO Pledge for Business Growth

By Mark Otto

01.17.2014 | Categories:

Leadership

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CEOs of growing companies face all the challenges that come with success: they need to scale their organization, to go regional, national, or global, to recruit and develop the right team as they scale, to build a great culture, to work effectively with their board, and to lead by influencing others rather than doing it all themselves. Success requires specific behaviors and changes to take on each new challenge along the way.

7 Habits of Unsuccessful Leaders

By Mark Otto

01.06.2014 | Categories:

Leadership

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I have witnessed numerous highflying companies come crashing to the ground. Through these experiences, I’ve learned a fundamental truth: Businesses don’t fail. Leaders fail. Nearly all leaders who preside over struggling businesses slip into several leadership traps on the way down. These traps can be so destructive that they can overshadow a leader’s strengths.

7 Year-End Questions Leaders Should Ask Themselves

By Mark Otto

12.30.2013 | Categories:

Leadership

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As a leader, it doesn’t matter how talented and successful you are, you are going to make mistakes. Over the last 20 years, I have had the opportunity to run various businesses and to work with or coach numerous business leaders in a broad range of industries. Through this experience, I have seen that even great leaders struggle through periods where they veer off course.

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